Games

Well, there is only one reason: all games presented here are in standard +3DOS loading format – as opposed to proprietary protected disk format.

Basically, I wanted to be able to use my physical +3 like I do with any modern PC; a file should be copied from one disk to another with the standard tools provided by the operating system – in this case, the COPY command of the +3 Basic. Besides, I wanted to be able to run the programs from either A: or B: drive if/where available.All games presented here can be loaded and/or copied like any other file and can run on A: or B: drive.

If you are looking for perfect original disk files, this is not the place for you !

Note: except where otherwise noted, only the loading routines were modified – either from direct disk access (protected or not) to +3DOS, or from tape to +3DOS.

The best chess program available for Spectrum (well, according to my opinion :) However, I find its 3D view mode too rudimentary

During the game, the move-records and game position can be saved and/or loaded to/from disk. The tape routines are no longer functional, I have replaced them with standard +3DOS disk loading routines. The file handling commands are the same as for tape. The complete Colossus Chess instructions may be found here (HTML version). Please check also the +3 Spectrum specific instructions.

Added a printer dump option, based on the +3 Basic’s COPY EXP command. The routine uses its own port driver, therefore it is not +3, +3B, +3whatever dependent (i.e. the parallel printer bug has no influence).

One of the game that makes use of the IN #FF port. If present, the music is enabled during game play, else only sound effects are heard (the sound effects are always present, regardless the IN #FF port issue)

Added the standard +3DOS disk loading

Added the real IN #FF port presence detection.This +3 version is based on an original tape, identical to Renegade 128K Speedlock3 TZX version from World of Spectrum archive. The original tape version has no support for music during game play on +2A/+3, even with the IN #FF port installed. The original tape version checks the presence or absence of the ROM2&3 bank; if present, it assumes the +2A/+3 is used and the music during game play is disabled; if absent, it assumes the +128/+2 is used (which also means the IN #FF port is present) and the music during game play is enabled.This +3 version checks the real presence or absence of the IN #FF port (the ROM2&3 bank detection has been removed). Its functionality can be put in evidence this way:

play the .DSK file with the X128 Spectrum Emulator in +3 mode; the music can be enjoyed during game play (this program emulates the IN #FF port in either ROM mode)

play the .DSK file with the ZX Spin in +3 mode; no music will be heard during game play (this program does not emulates the IN #FF port in +2A/+3 mode, it strictly follows the real machine hardware implementation (true for the current version, 0.504; this may change in future releases))

This is a “super” chess program too. I find only one disadvantage with respect to Colossus, which is graphically, not strategically related: the (graphical) movement of the program is too fast, there is no preceding beep, no flash, no nothing.

During the game, the move-records and game position can be saved and/or loaded to/from disk. Only 1 saved game can be present on a single diskette at a given time. The microdrive routines are no longer functional, I have replaced them with standard +3DOS disk loading routines.

Added a printer dump option, based on the +3 Basic’s COPY EXP command. The routine uses its own port driver, therefore it is not +3, +3B, +3whatever dependent (i.e. the parallel printer bug has no influence).